“We are very pleased to have Christine join our Purple Eagle staff,” said head women’s hockey coach Margot Page. “To be able to get someone of her coaching caliber at this point in the season is a blessing. She has a very good understanding of the way the game should be played and teaches it with so much passion and energy.”

Patno comes to Niagara after spending the last three years working at the University School of Milwaukee. In 2003, she was named head coach of the girls’ varsity hockey team and led the 2004 squad to the Wisconsin State Championship. In 2004, Patno joined the school staff as a physical education teacher, and from 2004 to 2005, she was the ice arena operations coordinator.

In addition to working at the University School of Milwaukee, Patno spent three years working for USA Hockey/WAHA Hockey as a select camp coach and evaluator.

While working with USA Hockey and WAHA Hockey from 2004-2006, she was named assistant coach for Team Wisconsin’s U19 Select team, co-head coach of Team Central at the Chicago Showcase, intern coach at the 17/18 Lake Placid camp, and elected head coach of Team Wisconsin’s U16 Selects. She also worked various summers at the Rochester Select Development camps.

A four-year defenseman at Ohio State, Patno was honored in 2002 and 2003 with the Most Improved Player and Most Intense Competitor Awards.

Following graduation, Patno played the 2005-06 season with the Minnesota Whitecaps Semi-Pro Hockey Team.

Patno graduated from Ohio State in 2003.

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